Kristin Henry Connects Accounting, Management and Criminal Justice Degrees through Year-Long AmeriCorps Experience

PENDLETON, SC – December 9, 2010 – When Kristen Henry graduates from Tri-County Technical College with a double major in Accounting and Business Management next spring, her resume already will include a year of work experience with AmeriCorps as a VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) site coordinator for Pickens County.

She never thought she would be able to combine her communication skills from her 1995 Criminal Justice degree from Tri-County with her accounting/management skills into a public service job with a not-for-profit agency.  (VITA volunteers provide free income tax preparation assistance to low-income, elderly, disabled and limited English-speaking people.)

“I’ve found the perfect job,” the West Union resident says of her year-long stint with AmeriCorps, a network of national service programs that engage more than 50,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health and the environment.  AmeriCorps members serve through more than 2,100 non-profits, public agencies and faith-based organizations.

“I knew I wanted help people in my job, but I didn’t know how to combine that with the accounting and management degrees,” she said.  She says a mock interview with Job Placement Coordinator Alison Reynolds put her on the right path.  “When she asked me what I wanted to do with my degrees, I gave a robotic answer.  Sensing that I wanted more, she asked what I really wanted to do, and I said work for a non-profit agency in its accounting/management office.  Mrs. Reynolds showed me how to make the connection between accounting, management and my Criminal Justice degree.  It was eye opening — one of those light-bulb moments that I had never thought of.”

Reynolds told her about a job listing with AmeriCorps and Henry applied. The United Way of Greenville County and United Way of Pickens County joined forces with AmeriCorps through a three-year grant-funded program, which offers assistance with tax returns, information about what state and federal benefits are available to qualifying residents and a financial management curriculum.

She applied and was among the seven hired to work in agencies in Pickens County agencies.  (SHARE, Pickens County Seniors Unlimited, the Board of Disabilities, the Pickens County Public Library System, the YMCA and Clemson Community Care are providing locations for these services.)

Henry was assigned to the SHARE office in Easley as VITA site coordinator to do volunteer and client outreach.  “The VITA tax preparation service will allow us to prepare income tax returns, free of charge, for those individuals who qualify (individuals and families who file a basic tax return, and who have a low-to-moderate income – defined as having a household income of less than $50,000).  “We want to get the word out about the free VITA tax preparation service,” she said, adding that there are an estimated 25,000 persons in Pickens County who qualify for VITA services. 

She also is implementing a job training program at the SHARE office. Through AmeriCorps, she receives a small living stipend and when she completes her year of service (July 31, 2010), she will receive an educational stipend.  “This has been a great experience.  I’m meeting new people and networking in the community.  I get to go home and feel good about what I do all day,” she added.

Already through the job training program, she has placed two individuals in nurse aide training classes.  “It changes lives.  It’s idealistic and it feels good,” she said.
“Kristen has so much to offer an employer.  She interviews very well and she is an excellent communicator.  She is a perfect fit for this job,” said Reynolds.
 
Heather Love, vice president of community impact for United Way of Pickens County, agrees.

“Kristen’s work experience, combined with her college degrees made her, at first glance, a great candidate for our program.  She is dedicated, creative and a self starter.  It’s unique to find someone who possesses all three of these valuable attributes,” said Love.

“Because she is one of two AmeriCorps members who has a background and degree in accounting, she is a huge asset to our team.  We look to her to answer questions because she has that real-world experience.  She offers a perspective that other AmeriCorps members may not be able to offer.  We would love to have Kristin consider being a part of AmeriCorps next year.”

“Many times students come into the Career Services Office unsure of their major.  It takes one-on-one conversation to help connect those dots.  This AmeriCorps opportunity is wonderful for Kristin,” said Reynolds. “Sometimes you have to get experience to be marketable.  It’s wise to look at more than the salary when you are a student.  I’ve been to recent community events that Kristen attended and so many people already know her.  She has made so many connections already and her job at AmeriCorps will make her resume even more valuable,” said Reynolds.

“I encourage students to pursue volunteer work and to get relevant work experience in their field of study.  This one-year commitment is a way to build your resume and to make important community connections,” said Reynolds.

Henry credits Reynolds and others at Tri-County with helping her to make good academic, career and personal decisions.
 
She began college at Tri-County in 1995 as a teenage mother and was active with the College’s then-Homemakers and Single Parents (HASP) organization.  “If it weren’t for Ollie Smith (HASP director), I would not have been able to succeed,” said Henry, who today is married and the mother of four daughters.  “It comes down to caring and every department at Tri-County cares about you and your academic success.”

After she graduates, she and her family hope to move to her home state of Maine where she wants to work at the Financial Literacy Institute as a counselor and one day continue her education.